Boycott calls for Gatting appointment

Geoffrey Boycott believes Mike Gatting is the 'strong character' England need as chairman of selectors to pick up the pieces after the team crashed out of the World Cup.

Coach Duncan Fletcher and skipper Michael Vaughan have come in for harsh criticism after the team slipped to a humiliating nine-wicket defeat to South Africa on Tuesday which ended their hopes of reaching the semi-finals.

"David Graveney, the chairman of selectors, mumbles privately about some of the players Fletcher picks, but he is not prepared to stand up to him," Boycott wrote in his Daily Telegraph column. "England need a stronger man in this job, someone like Mike Gatting."

Boycott also questioned the future of Vaughan as one-day skipper after a dreadful run of form, but believes he deserves another chance in the Test arena.

"Just look at Michael Vaughan, whose position will now have to be seriously considered," added Boycott.

"You cannot keep your place in the one-day side just because you are a good captain, or because you look elegant at the crease, or even because you are playing well in the nets. A team of good-lookers won't win anything.

"I would give Vaughan another chance in Test matches to see how he goes, but he still has to make runs. His leadership skills are his greatest asset, but even those will be eroded if he becomes a passenger within the side."